Tumbang Manggu Tourism Village

The Philosophy of Huma Betang and Traditional Architecture

The cultural center in Tumbang Manggu is rooted in the existence of the Rumah Betang. In this village, Betang is not just a long wooden house made of ulin wood, but a symbol of unity and tolerance. The elevated structure with a single ladder (hejan) reflects self-defense and the togetherness of a large family. Architectural preservation programs here ensure that every renovation continues to use traditional materials and joinery techniques without modern nails, which are passed down through generations as part of traditional carpentry education.

Cultural Activities and Featured Programs

Tumbang Manggu Tourism Village offers interactive programs designed to involve visitors in the rhythm of local community life. One of its flagship programs is "A Second as a Dayak," where tourists not only watch but live with the residents, learn to use the blowgun (sipet), and understand traditional farming methods that align with the customary calendar.

Daily activities at this cultural center include:

1. Handicraft Workshops: Focusing on rattan weaving with distinctive Katingan motifs such as the Batang Garing (Tree of Life) motif. Visitors are taught how to process raw rattan into lunta (nets), tanggui (wide hats), and high-art ethnic bags.

2. Traditional Music Classes: Intensive training on the Dayak Kecapi and Garantung (gong) instruments. The uniqueness in Tumbang Manggu lies in the kecapi playing technique that follows the rhythm of the surrounding natural sounds.

3. Traditional Tattoo Education: Although now more artistic, this cultural center provides in-depth explanations of the symbolic meanings of each Dayak tattoo stroke, which relate to social strata and life journeys.

Performing Arts: Spiritual and Aesthetic Manifestations

The performing arts in Tumbang Manggu are a blend of aesthetic movement and spiritual rituals. One of the most prominent is the Mandau Dance. Unlike performances in urban areas, in Tumbang Manggu, the Mandau Dance is performed with special reverence to the ancestors, using authentic weapons blessed in customary rituals.

In addition, there is the Karungut Dance, a narrative art form that chants verses containing life advice, genealogical history, and social criticism. The village elders at this cultural center regularly hold "Karungut Night" sessions to ensure this oral literature and rhythm do not fade with time. Visitors can witness how intergenerational communication occurs through song verses accompanied by the magical strumming of the kecapi.

Heritage Preservation and Customary Rituals

Tumbang Manggu is known as one of the guardians of the Tiwang tradition, the final-level funeral ritual for followers of the Kaharingan Hindu religion. As a cultural center, this village serves as an educational site for researchers and tourists to understand that Tiwah is not just a customary feast, but the highest form of devotion from descendants to guide ancestral souls towards Lewu Tatau (heaven).

The cultural center is also actively preserving the Pakanan Batu ritual, a thanksgiving ceremony for harvest results and a tribute to the agricultural tools that have aided humanity. Through these rituals, Tumbang Manggu teaches the concept of balance between humans, nature, and the Creator (Ranying Hatalla Langit).

Cultural Education and Community Involvement

Community empowerment is a main pillar of Tumbang Manggu Tourism Village. Village children are required to attend cultural classes every weekend at the village hall. They are taught the regional language, which is gradually fading, traditional dances, and folk tales (legends) that contain moral messages.

Community involvement is also evident in the management of homestays based on residents' homes. Tourists who stay will be treated to local cuisine such as Juhu Singkah (young rattan shoots) and grilled Ikan Jelawat (a type of fish). The cooking process becomes a means of gastronomic education, where the ingredients used are sourced directly from the surrounding forest or residents' gardens, demonstrating food self-sufficiency based on local wisdom.

Katingan Cultural Festival in Tumbang Manggu

Every year, Tumbang Manggu hosts or is a main participant in district-level cultural festivals. These events usually feature traditional sports competitions such as:

• Menyumpit (Blowgun Shooting): Testing accuracy in hitting targets with a blowgun.
• Besei Kambe: A head-on rowing race that requires physical strength and team cohesion.
• Mampatung: A competition to carve ulin wood into Sapundu statues.

This festival is not only a tourist attraction but also a "homecoming" moment for Katingan residents who have migrated, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood (kinship) that characterize the Dayak people.

Role in Regional Cultural Development

As one of the leading tourism villages in Katingan Regency, Tumbang Manggu serves as a model for Culture-Based Tourism development. The cultural center here functions as a living laboratory for the development of creative economy products. Innovations such as natural dyeing for traditional fabrics using bark and forest roots are developed here to reduce environmental impact while increasing product market value.

The existence of Tumbang Manggu Tourism Village also encourages the revitalization of historical sites along the Katingan River. By preserving the surrounding forests, the community indirectly safeguards a "natural library" that stores traditional medicinal ingredients and handicraft raw materials that form the foundation of their culture.

Challenges and Future Hopes

The Tumbang Manggu Cultural Center faces the challenges of modernization and the global flow of information. However, with the spirit of "Culture is Identity," the village community continues to innovate. The use of social media to promote the beauty of their dances and crafts is a step forward without abandoning their traditional roots.

In the future, Tumbang Manggu is projected to become a research center for Dayak culture in Central Kalimantan. The development of a more representative village museum and the digitization of oral manuscripts are in the planning stages. This aims to make the knowledge of Basir (ritual leaders) and local art maestros accessible to future generations and the international community.

Conclusion

Tumbang Manggu Tourism Village is tangible proof that progress does not have to erase national identity. As a cultural center in Katingan, it offers more than just beautiful scenery; it offers a spiritual and intellectual journey into the heart of Dayak civilization. Through its dances, crafts, rituals, and simple daily life, Tumbang Manggu continues to pulse, keeping the flame of tradition alive amidst the currents of global change. Visiting Tumbang Manggu is an effort to appreciate humanity and diversity, which are invaluable treasures for Indonesia.